Every time the Goa Legislative Assembly is in session, the name Mhadei echoes loudly within the hallowed walls of the Vidhan Sabha. Emotions run high, tempers flare, and fiery rhetoric dominates the debate. Yet, once the session adjourns and the cameras are turned off, the river and its fragile ecosystem are conveniently forgotten — by both the ruling party and the opposition.
The question that arises, and must now be asked with more urgency than ever, is: Why is the Mhadei issue used as a political spectacle, rather than being treated as the ecological and existential crisis that it truly is?
A River of Political Convenience
River Mhadei, also known as Mandovi in Goa, is the lifeline of the state, supplying drinking water to nearly two-thirds of its population. Its ecological importance, cultural relevance, and strategic necessity cannot be overstated. Yet the gravity of the issue is inversely proportional to the political seriousness it receives — except when the spotlight of the Assembly is on.
Every time the House is in session, Mhadei is resurrected as a weapon of political leverage. The ruling party blames the Centre’s decisions or Karnataka’s aggression, while the opposition accuses the government of betrayal and inaction. And this ping-pong continues, session after session, with little tangible progress on the ground.
The rest of the year? Silence. No significant public outreach, no sustained awareness campaigns, no follow-through on legal or diplomatic strategies, no new environmental safeguards, and absolutely no sense of urgency.
Theatrics or Real Concern?
What we witness during Assembly sessions is, unfortunately, a textbook example of playing to the gallery. It is a well-orchestrated drama where each side plays their assigned role: one as the aggrieved guardian, the other as the outraged saviour. Theatrics replace policy. Speeches substitute action.
This political posturing, while emotionally charged, does little to halt Karnataka’s aggressive push for diversion of Mhadei’s waters through the Kalasa-Bhandura projects. Nor does it strengthen Goa’s legal fight in the Supreme Court or bring diplomatic pressure through central agencies.
One must remember that Mhadei is not just a local issue; it is an inter-state water dispute involving Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra. It requires strategic planning, strong legal acumen, interstate diplomacy, and above all, consistent political will. Goa, unfortunately, has shown a chronic deficiency in all these aspects.
What Has Been Done — And Not Done
To be fair, both ruling and opposition parties have taken certain steps over the years — legal petitions, fact-finding visits, protests, and even forming committees. But most of these actions have either been half-hearted or ad hoc in nature. There has been little evidence of a sustained, science-based, or people-centred strategy.
The ruling government, particularly since the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal’s interim order and subsequent approvals by the Centre for Karnataka’s Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), has failed to mobilise public opinion with the intensity the issue demands. Petitions in court and appeals to the Centre are necessary, yes, but insufficient unless backed by public awareness and consistent pressure.
The opposition, for its part, has failed to go beyond blame games. Rarely have they presented a comprehensive blueprint to protect Mhadei, nor have they mobilised citizens for sustained civic action outside the Assembly. Their outrage often ends where the TV cameras do.
Time to Rise Above Politics
What Goa needs is a unified, bipartisan approach to Mhadei. A standing committee of experts, environmentalists, hydrologists, and legal minds must be formed — with real teeth and a mandate to work year-round. Public consultations, especially in affected regions, should be institutionalised. Goa’s case must be taken beyond the courtroom to the court of public opinion across India.
River Mhadei is not a political issue; it is a matter of Goa’s survival. Treating it as seasonal political ammunition is not just cynical — it is dangerous.
Until our leaders realise that playing to the gallery might win applause but not water, Goa will continue to suffer — and so will the Mhadei. The time for political theatre is over. The time for action is now.
